Crime & Safety

Elderly Death Review Group in Kane Expands into Two Other Counties

Those within the Tri-County Elder Fatality Review Team hope the effort will prevent future abuse.

A Kane County effort to evaluate suspicious deaths of the elderly and potentially prevent future incidents is expanding to two neighboring counties.

The Elder Fatality Review Team, which previously operated solely within Kane, will combine efforts with Kendall and DeKalb counties and expand its review process.

Many of the cases the Kane County team reviewed regarding elder deaths in which abuse or neglect were factors crossed into the other two counties. This jurisdictional crossover prompted the expansion of the review team into the new Tri-County EFRT, officials said at a press conference Wednesday morning.

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The portion of the population older than 65 is expected to continue increasing through 2030. The potential for elder abuse grows in proportion to the increase in the elder population.

“It is still too easy to abuse, neglect and exploit elders,” said Kane State’s Attorney Joseph McMahon.

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In 2007, the EFRT began reviewing deaths of the elderly as a response to neglect and abuse in the growing demographic. Officials believed they had the opportunity to help protect seniors.

Prior to that, information of potential abuse was brought to the attention of authorities following the death of an elderly woman—identified as "Jane" by those familiar with the case—had illuminated for officials the lack of a process for health and other agencies to work together on suspicious cases.

McMahon said it is his and the team’s hope that, by expanding into the two counties, the quality of life for seniors will improve throughout the region.

For officials in Kendall and DeKalb counties, the joint program would help in the instances for cases of abuse or neglect cross boundary lines. For instance, elderly people in Kendall County, which lacks a hospital, often would be taken to hospitals in the other two counties.

“This just makes perfect sense … to combine the resources we have in place,” said Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis.

The EFRT has the additional task of finding the deficiencies in identifying cases and preventing future abuse or neglect of others.

While other potentially vulnerable groups already have support systems in place, teams like Kane’s EFRT provide what is lacking for the older population.

“Society, appropriately, has system in place to identify and report child abuse and domestic abuse,” said Linda Voirin, victim advocate in the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. "But, we are lacking an inter-agency approach to tackle elder abuse. We are working hard to change that."

To report suspected abuse or neglect, call 911 or the statewide, 24-hour Elder Abuse Hotline at 866-800-1409.

Quick Facts One in every eight Americans is 65 years or older One in 13 of those 65 years or older is the victim of abuse One in 23 of elder abuse or neglect is reported Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging

 


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